Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

To encourage physicians, ICU nurses, and respiratory therapist to use the ventilator associated pneumonia bundle in all ventilated patients in an intensive care unit.

Critically ill patients that require mechanical ventilation are at risk of developing secondary infections that may increase length of stay and possibly even morbidity. This fragile patient population requires special attention and meticulous adherence to established nursing standards of care. These standards of care are founded on evidenced based practices. It is important that nurses receive education about why these standards are in place and what consequences can result due to not following the established care protocols.

For the collection of data, developed and verified NI surveillance was used. The NI surveillance was useful for measuring both the incidence and risk factors of VAP according to Katherason et al (2009). Demographical data, past medical history, medications, nutritional status, laboratory results, diagnosis, history of illness, etc were all included in the surveillance. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score measured the severity of the illness. The APCHE is comprised of the acute physiological score that entails the major physiological systems and the chronic health evaluation that incorporates the influence of co-morbid conditions on the patient’s current health (O'Keefe-McCarthy, Santiago, & Lau, 2008).

In the ICU, an area of practice that has seen improved patient outcomes is through the use of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) bundles. VAP is a pneumonia that affects patients who are on ventilation. It occurs when pathogens enter the patient’s lungs through the mouth, nose or throat. A ventilator strategy bundle was developed. In 1994, the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) revised the CDC Guideline for Prevention of Nosocomial Pneumonia to address VAP, as there was growing concern regarding the mortality and morbidity associated with healthcare related pneumonia. In the report, the VAP strategy bundle was developed and included in the bundle are: elevation head of bed to help prevent aspiration, oral

The purpose of this document is a critical study and analysis of the oral care provided by nursing staff as part of the Ventilator Care Bundle (VCB) and to assess whether the frequency of mouth care performed is related to the prevention of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) in patients mechanically ventilated (Zilberberg et al. 2009).

In clinical experience, it is seen that many patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are on mechanical ventilation. These patients range from having head trauma, heart surgery and respiratory problems yet there is no clear, concise systematic standard oral care procedures noted on the different floors in the hospital. Oral care is a basic nursing care activity that can provide relief, comfort and prevention of microbial growth yet is given low priority when compared to other critical practices in critically ill patients. The Center for Disease Control reveals that Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common nosocomial infection that affects approximately 27% of critically ill patients (Koeman, Van der Ven & Hak,

The authors of Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine state that “Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a subset of HAP that occurs in mechanically ventilated patients more than 48 h after tracheal intubation” The type of ventilator that is needed to treat patients is called a mechanical ventilator. For these ventilators, a tube has to be inserted down the person’s throat thus causing more bacterial to get inside the patient’s body. Conclusion While most may think that hospitals are an environment for patients to return to their healthy state, hospitals can also be an environment where it deters them from healing. Hospital-acquired illnesses kill many each year and is due to reason of neglect or misuse of equipment.

Implementation of the VAP bundle has greatly decreased VAP at various facilities. Even if the patient is unable to tolerate certain interventions there are various other interventions that could be put in place that would help halt the process of proliferation before it starts. The quality of care in relation to ventilated patients has greatly increased due to the frequency in which oral care, turning and sitting the patient up is recommended. The VAP bundle at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis consist of elevating the head of the bed (HOB) to 30º to 45º, twice-a-day oral care with chlorhexidine mouth rinse, stress ulcer prophylaxis, washing of hands before and after contact with each patient, daily sedative interruption, and daily assessment of patients readiness to wean from mechanical ventilation.

From investigation in health practices, ventilator associated pneumonia caught my attention. “Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units. Most episodes of VAP are thought to develop from the aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions containing potentially pathogenic organisms. Aspiration of gastric secretions may also contribute, though likely a lesser degree. Tracheal intubation interrupts the body’s anatomic and physiologic defenses against aspiration, making mechanical ventilation a major risk for Ventilator Associated Pneumonia. Semi-recumbent positioning of mechanically ventilated patients may help reduce the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux and lead to a decreased incidence of VAP. The one randomized trial to date of semi- recumbent positioning shows it to be an effective method of reducing VAP. Immobility in critically ill patients leads to atelectasis and decreased clearance of bronchopulmonary secretions. The accumulation of contaminated oropharyngeal secretions above the endotracheal tube cuff may contribute to the risk of aspiration. Removing these

38. American Journal of Respiratory care and critical care Medicine, Volume 175, issue 7, pages 698 – 704

The clinical manifestations of pneumonia will be different according to the causative organism and the patient’s underlying conditions and/or comorbidities (Smeltzer, et al). Some of the manifestations are

This paper explores Pneumonia and the respiratory disease process associated with bacterial and viral pathogens most commonly located in the lung. The paper examines the process, symptoms and treatments most commonly viewed in patient cases of Pneumonia. My goal is to educate the reader and to warn of the

The Ganz et al. (2009) research was performed in order to evaluate the ICU nurses oral care routines and if they were using appropriate, up-to-date evidenced based techniques and lastly if evidence-based practices (EBP) was associated with personal demographics and professional characteristics. Ganz et al. (2009) had found that previous research and studies has shown that poor oral hygiene may contribute to greater risks for pneumonia which results in an increase in mortality and morbidity (Ganz et al., p 133). In fact some of the research studies had stated that there was no documentation of the nurses oral care practices and these practices were not even up-to-date with recent evidence (Ganz et al., p 133). In addition to that, ventilator-associated

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung which results into an excess of fluid or pus accumulating into the alveoli of the lung. Pneumonia impairs gas exchange which leads to hypoxemia and is acquire by inhaling a contagious organism or an irritating agent. (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2013). Fungal, bacteria and viruses are the most common organisms that can be inhale. Pneumonia could be community-acquired or health care associated. Community –acquired pneumonia (CAP) occurs out of a healthcare facility while health care associated pneumonia (HAP) is acquired in a healthcare facility. HAP are more resistant to antibiotic and patients on ventilators and those receiving kidney dialysis have a higher risk factor. Infants, children and the elderly also have a higher risk of acquiring pneumonia due to their immune system inability to fight the virus. Pneumonia can also be classified as aspiration pneumonia if it arises by inhaling saliva, vomit, food or drink into the lungs. Patients with abnormal gag reflex, dysphagia, brain injury, and are abusing drug or alcohol have a higher risk of aspiration pneumonia (Mayo Clinic, 2013). In the case of patient E.O., this patient had rhonchi in the lower lobe and the upper lobe sound was coarse and diminished. Signs and symptoms of pneumonia include difficulty breathing, chest pain, wheezing, fever, headache, chills, cough, confusion, pain in muscle or

“Teaching patients about promoting, maintaining, and restoring their health is a required nursing skill that most often results in a positive outcome, enhancing the patient 's quality of life” (Lewis et al., 2014, p.52). The intent of this analysis is to educate patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on means that can enhance their quality of life and avert the progression of their disease. More specifically, it will focus on the aspect of teaching Mrs. N, a patient, how to effectively handle certain symptoms experienced with techniques like pursed-lip breathing and also, to upsurge the client’s awareness on preventative measures to abate the possibility of acute exacerbations. Mrs. N is a 100-years-old woman of Canadian and Arabic background. In mid-September, she was rushed to the hospital after experiencing worsening dyspnea and a fever. The doctors deduced a diagnosis of pneumonia and therefore, she was transferred to the medical unit at the Lakeshore hospital in order to be treated with intravenous antibiotics. Mrs. N has a past medical history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, anemia, deep vein thrombosis and mixed dementia. Mrs. N is a retired widow with two daughters, who come and visit her on a daily basis at the hospital and encourage her to mobilize and eat because she has an extremely poor appetite on most days. She’s well cared for by a team of care workers in the nursing home where she lives and her daughters and